According to Canon Patrick Power (Ref 1 & 2) Rev Patrick McGrath was parish priest of Ardmore from 1836 to 1846. The church of Ardmore was erected during his pastorate in 1837. The building is described as "of the plain spacious and substantial type characteristic of country churches of the second quarter of the last century". The builder was Mr Mullany of Cahir and the dimensions of the church are given as length 88ft width 31.5 ft. Odell estate records (Ref 3) mention a lease dated 16th February 1844 from John Odell to Rev Patrick McGrath P.P. of Ardmore, for 500 years, from 25th March 1844. "This lease is for site of Roman Catholic Chapel and contains a clause of forfeiture if otherwise used.

The site of the previous church is not known. One is tempted to suggest Temple Disert at St. Declan's Well but this is definitely not the case. Smith (Ref 4) in 1774 described Temple Disert as being "quite in ruins". Ryland (Ref 5) in 1824 describes it as being "in a most ruinous condition". So we must look elsewhere.

Local tradition tells of a thatched chapel or mass house up the cliff near the pier. Some evidence for this is provided by two holy water fonts found at Cliff Cottage and also by the story of the mass path. People from Ardo and Whiting Bay used to come to church along an old mass path which started up near the rectory. The path went in front of Curran's Cottage (now Joe Callaghan's), crossed the stream and went along through the fields in an easterly direction behind Melrose, Maycroft and Lacken following the boundary line between Duffcarrick and Dysert. The remains of this track can still be seen behind Melrose. According to Paddy Mockler the end of it was the (idir) "dha Thig" the path which descends steeply from Dawson's Road to the Cliff 'coming out' between 'Stone Steps' and 'Rosary Cottage'.

According to Jack Crowley a link with these times is provided through a reminiscence of Tom Cullen of Ardo. Tom Cullen, father of J. Cullen who wrote "Lovely Ardo" and of D. Cullen of Colaiste Deaglain, was born in the 183O's, and was over 90 when he died. Tom recalled following his parents to mass as a child along this route to the cliff. By the time he was old enough to go to mass the present church had been built.

Rev Patrick McGrath P.P. was also responsible for erecting the churches of Grange and Old Parish. In 1846 he was transferred to another pastorate and at that time Ballymacart or Old Parish was cut off from Ardmore and Joined to Ring, and so the present parish is made up of Ardmore and Grange. Fr. McGrath was succeeded by Fr. Prendergast, Fr. Wall and Fr. Shanahan in turn. All of whom lie buried in Ardmore Church. The tombstones inscribed to them were originally embedded in the Church floor. During renovations in the church the three tombstones were relocated outside at the western boundary wall of the churchyard, on the right as you come in the church gate.

Rev Garrett Prendergast P.P. 1846-1857
Distributed food during the Famine, died on January 2nd 1857 and was buried in front of the main altar.

Rev Patrick Wall P.P. 1857 - 1875
Died on Good Friday March 20th 1875. To his memory the people erected the marble side altar dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in front of which he lies buried.

Rev John Shanahan P.P. 1875 - 1884
Died on 11th March 1884 aged 68 years, and was buried in front of Our Lady's Altar. He built the 'old' National School of Ardmore outside the church.

References
1. Parochial History of Waterford and Lismore During the 18th and 19th Centuries P. Power (1912)
2. Waterford & Lismore P. Power (1937)A Compendious History of the United Dioceses
3. Sale of Odell Estate 1893 (Rental, Particulars & Conditions of Sale)
4. The Ancient and Present State of the County and City of Waterford. Charles Smith 1774
5. The History, Topography and Antiquities of the and City of Waterford. Rev. R.H. Ryland 1824